Community pharmacists as antimicrobial resistance stewards: a narrative review on their contributions and challenges in low- and middle-income countries.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health crisis that impedes the therapeutic effectiveness of available antimicrobial agents. Due to the high burden of infectious diseases and limited resources, especially trained healthcare professionals, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are particularly susceptible to the detrimental effects of AMR. Sometimes, as the first and last point of contact for patients seeking treatment for infections, community pharmacists can play a pivotal role in the stewardship required for AMR.

Continuous Professional Development for Public Sector Pharmacists in South Africa: A Case Study of Mapping Competencies in a Pharmacists' Preceptor Programme.

Lifelong learning among healthcare practitioners is crucial to keep abreast of advances in therapeutic and service delivery approaches. In South Africa, continuous professional development (CPD) was mandated (2019) for re-registration of pharmacists to illustrate their learning according to the South African Pharmacy Council's (SAPC) competency standards. This paper uses a preceptor programme linked to the University of the Western Cape School of Pharmacy's service learning programme to map the competencies employed by pharmacist preceptors in primary care public healthcare facilities in Cape Town in an attempt to encourage completion of their annual CPDs and strengthening the academic-service partnership.

Facilitating and limiting factors of workplace health promotion at Rhodes University, South Africa.

Background: Workplace health promotion programs, when well designed and implemented are beneficial to both employees and their employers.

Objective: To investigate the factors that affect workplace health promotion initiatives intended for support staff at Rhodes University. To explore ways in which future initiatives that aim to reduce the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in the workplace may be improved.

Balanced nutrition and hand hygiene for children in South Africa.

Globally, ∼5.9 million children under the age of 5 years died in 2015, with the challenges of child mortality and morbidity being common in developing countries. Many of these deaths are preventable and poor nutritional and hygienic practices contribute greatly to these rates.

Gender and leadership for health literacy to combat the epidemic rise of noncommunicable diseases.

Until recently, the noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) epidemic has been considered only a significant burden to men in high-income countries. However, latest figures indicate that half of all NCD-related deaths affect women, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with global responses to the NCD epidemic overlooking the significance of women and girls in their approaches and programs. This case study highlights the burden of disease challenging South Africa that disproportionately affects women in the country and suggests that the country, along with other LMICs internationally, requires a shift in the gender-based leadership of health literacy and self-empowerment.

Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus: A Preliminary South African Health Promotion Activity Using Service-Learning Principles.

A marked increase in the chronic non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus in the South African population is in concert with global trends. A health promotion activity carried out by pharmacy students for school learners during the Sasol National Festival of Science and Technology (SciFest) in South Africa was used as a service-learning opportunity. Pilot tested quizzes on hypertension and diabetes were used to determine the level of knowledge of attendees before and after taking the computer based quiz.

Knowledge of HIV and its treatment among health care providers in South Africa.

Background: In South Africa, availability of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs has increased largely in the public sector since it became available in 2004. Follow-up of stabilized patients on ARV drugs are done in primary health care (PHC) facilities run by nurses, often without specialized training. This has deep impact on the patients' drug adherence.

Healthcare providers' experiences with adverse drug reactions and adherence challenges in antiretroviral therapy of HIV patients in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

Purpose: To gain insight into the experiences and handling of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) by the staffs of public primary healthcare (PHC) clinics in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, as well as their perceptions of related adherence challenges in the treatment and follow-up of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients.

Methods: Healthcare providers working at the PHC level in the public sector in the study area were approached and asked to participate in focus group discussions (FGDs). Seven FGDs were conducted with 32 healthcare providers (9 nurses, 23 auxiliary staff).

Addressing gaps in pharmacovigilance practices in the antiretroviral therapy program in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

Background: The use of antiretrovirals (ARVs) is associated with considerable concern regarding adverse drug reactions (ADRs), including both short- and long-term complications. Currently, there is a general underreporting of ADRs in South Africa. In May 2007, the Eastern Cape regional training centre introduced a pharmacovigilance plan for antiretroviral therapy (ART) to improve reporting practices in the area.

Antiretroviral treatment and follow-up of HIV-infected patients by health care providers in South African public primary health care.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV became available in the South African public health sector in 2004. Medical treatment in public primary health care (PHC) clinics is dependent on nurses and auxiliary staff. The aim of this descriptive study was to describe practice patterns and perceptions of health care providers (HCPs) regarding treatment of HIV-infected patients on ART, drug adherence, and patient education in a public PHC setting in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

The role of insight into and beliefs about medicines of hypertensive patients.

Objectives: One aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge and understanding of selected individuals about hypertension, as well as their beliefs and perceptions about medicines. The other purpose was to determine the medicines information provision system that these participants were exposed to.

Methods: Participants filled in the Beliefs about Medicines questionnaire and one-on-one interviews were conducted.